Page 39 of The Sundered Realms

He was trying, she realized, very hard to not test her. Beyond the initial parameters.

She had no idea what to do with that.

“What,” Vhannor asked with that perfect smirk as she regarded him thoughtfully, “didn’t think I’d actually know my way around outside the university?”

Frankly Liris assumed he knew his way around every street in all the realms. “I’d assumed you’d have other things to do. That you’d make arrangements for me to be shown places. That’s not what you meant, was it?”

“No, I said I’d show you.“ He paused. “Void it, that was its own assumption, wasn’t it? You’d probably prefer different company, for different perspectives—“

“No, I want you.” Liris’ and Vhannor’s eyes both widened—that had come out wrong.

Or... unwisely.

She rushed on, “Thank you for explicitly giving me an out. If I would ever prefer different company I’ll let you know, but at this time I don’t.”

They lapsed into a different silence then, and Liris was unspeakably glad when Vhannor cleared his throat and drew her attention to a small Sonang restaurant and back to the experiment.

Maybe a game. This wasn’t Liris’ normal way of learning, but the conversation, and Vhannor, gave her a point of focus, and a medium through which to interact with Embhullor rather than existing outside it.

This had to be a strange exercise for the Lord of Embhullor, too, but for all his assertions that Liris should feel free to share herself here, he held himself back in an effort to make that space for her.

Liris found that consideration annoying, but she supposed he was no more likely to commit to full openness than she was.

The game changed as they came to the entrance to the university somewhat ahead of the spire, and once inside, it was like entering a whole other realm within the realm. The university was built like a castle on a tor with individual colleges, libraries, and towers. Buildings that had served one purpose long ago had been cannibalized by other colleges since, leading to a convoluted, nonsensical mess of geography that Liris found absolutely delightful.

From the spire a person could apparently see across all of the University of Embhullor and beyond. But within the university grounds, although there were people all around, it was quiet again. Like even being here was a kind of focus against the distractions of the world.

Serenthuar’s palace had been like that. Liris hadn’t expected to miss that quality, but it was different knowing she’d be able to leave it.

Vhannor led her inside one of the towers that looked just like any other, up a winding staircase, and into a tastefully appointed office.

Oil paintings of landscapes were mounted around the room, each of them reflecting the same shade of blue as the rug. A collection of canes in various styles stood within easy reach of the tidy desk, whose only obvious personal touch was a framed sketch of two women smiling at each other, one wearing goggles and covered in ink and the other elegant in an expensive dress.

The only occupant of the room resembled the latter and sat knitting in a plush chair in the center.

Liris took in the woman’s taste, attire, and ease here, calculated the correct degree of bow, and executed.

“Please, take a seat.” Lady Inealuwor gestured to the other chair and couch in the room. “You must be Liris. Don’t fret about bows with me—if I wanted that sort of pomp, I’d have a sign on my door.”

Liris took a seat on the couch, and Vhannor sat next to her. Lady Inealuwor raised her eyebrows at this, and Vhannor raised his right back.

An expression of support. But why?

“What would the sign say?” Liris asked.

“‘Consider carefully before bringing me any more problems’,” Lady Inealuwor answered dryly.

Vhannor explained, “I’m nominally in charge, but Lady Inealuwor handles most of the day-to-day coordination so my skills aren’t lost from the field. Assigning missions, making sure all teams have enough spell ink, all of that.”

Liris’ stomach unclenched. Serenthuar had known Lady Inealuwor was the person who made daily decisions for Special Operations. And Vhannor had admitted it after all.

Before, they’d been in public, and she’d been obviously overwhelmed. Of course he hadn’t told her before.

“Why isn’t she officially in charge, then?” Liris asked.

“Aristocracy,” Vhannor drawled.

Liris flashed him a quick grin, feeling unreasonably lighter.

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